University of Gothenburg Regulatory document Dnr V 2013/511 Diving rules at the University of Gothenburg Published Medarbetarportalen.gu.se/Regulatory document Decision makers Vice-chancellor Manager function Personnel unit Decision date 2013-06-17 Validity until further notice Summary Rules for diving work at the University of Gothenburg responsibilities and organization as well as rules for systematic work environment management for diving activities Translated from the original in Swedish language by staff at the Marine Infrastructure-Kristineberg, Uni of Gothenburg, without any warrantee for correctness). Contents 1 General 1.1 Regulations and literature 1.2 All diving is voluntary 1.3 Exemption from diving rules 2 Validity of the regulations 2.1 Swedish visiting divers 2.2 Foreign visiting divers 3 Working environment responsibility 4 Diving activities leader 5 Regulations for diving and diving methods 5.1 Diving with hyperbaric shelf-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) 5.1.1 Competence requirements 5.1.2 Medical examination etc. 5.1.3 Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR-training) 5.1.4 Air transport after diving 5.1.5 Diving at altitude 5.1.6 Alcohol consumption 5.1.7 Certified equipment 5.1.8 Personal protective equipment 5.1.9 Maintenance of equipment 5.1.10 Diving air quality 5.1.11 Maintenance of skills 5.2 Snorkeling and free diving 6 Documentation 6.1 Common register for the University of Gothenburg 6.1.1 Records of medical examinations, CPR-training, diving competence etc. 6.1.2 Records of diving (diving journals) 6.2 Local records save on the currents drive 6.2.1 Inspection/service of dive equipment 6.2.2 Risk assessment and measures 6.2.3 Diving plan 6.3 Personal register 6.3.1 Personal diving book 6.4 Other registers 6.4.1 Reporting of work injuries, incidents and deviations in diving work 7 Leisure/recreational diving 7.1 SCUBA-diving 7.2 Snorkeling and free diving 1 General The vice-chancellor decided at a meeting at the 17th of June 2013 to established rules for diving at the University of Gothenburg. Therefore, the previous regulations, signed at the 6th of June 1995, are no longer applicable. The rules of diving have been developed to make diving activities as safe as possible at the University of Gothenburg. The rules are based primarily on the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s Provisions on Diving Work and General Recommendations on the implementation of the Provisions (AFS 2010:16 Work Diving and AFS 2005:6 Occupational medical supervision) together with the Armed Forces publication rules for military shipping (RMS- Dyk). 1.1 Regulations and literature On each unit where diving occurs, the actual versions (with updates) of the following laws, regulations and the diving rules of the Universities should be available: - The Work Environment Act (SFS 1977:1160) - Use of work equipment (AFS 2006:4) - Use of personal protective equipment (AFS 2001:3) - Configuration of personal protective equipment (AFS 1996:7) “Utförande av personlig skyddsutrusting” (not yet translated to English) - Work diving (AFS 2010:16) - Gas bottles (AFS 2001:04) “Gas flaskor” (not yet translated to English) - Occupational medical supervision (AFS 2005:06) - Systematic work environment management (AFS 2001:01 with amendments) Furthermore, the latest version of Armed Forces publication rules for military shipping (RMS- Dyk) and RMS-Diving Field should be available. 1.2 All diving is voluntary All participation in diving activities with the University of Gothenburg is voluntary. 1.3 Exception from diving rules The Work Environment Authorities may grant, under § 18 Environment Work Ordinance, exceptions from regulations the authority has issued. Applications for exceptions from regulations on diving work have to be done by the head of department (or equivalent) at the unit that is affected by the possible exception. It is the head of department’s (or equivalent) responsibility to ensure that the exception prescribed is followed. Exception from Work Environment regulations also means dispensing of these operations from diving rules of the University of Gothenburg. Note if the exceptions from the Swedish Work Environment regulations on diving operations are related to a specific person, this shall be indicated in the personal file in the central register for medical examinations. There should also be noted what the exception applies, a time limit for the exception - as well as the other restrictions mentioned (see point 6.1.). 2 Validity of the regulations The rules of diving at the University of Gothenburg apply to all diving undertaken by: - Employees at the University of Gothenburg in connection with their employment - Students or researchers at the University of Gothenburg in connection with their education or research - Others that the University of Gothenburg has the coordinating responsibility for e.g. employees, researchers and students from other universities, hired divers, etc. The rules of diving apply to these groups when diving occurs at Swedish universities or Swedish ships unless someone else has taken over responsibility for the coordination of the diving activities. The rules must also be followed when diving abroad or at foreign ships unless they conflict the national or local rules. If more restrictive regulations apply in the country where the diving is conducted these local regulation must be followed. Special rules apply for leisure diving when equipment belonging to the University of Gothenburg is used, or if diving is done in the Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences stations harbor area (see section 7). 2.1 Swedish visiting divers For Swedish visiting divers the same requirements apply as for the university’s own divers. The visiting diver’s employer must certify that the diver may carry out the specified diving work at the unit, and the diver meets the current certification requirements for professional divers, that CPR-training is not older than 3 years and that the diver has successfully passed the medical examination for diving work. The medical examination shall not be older than what is specified in AFS 2005:6, § 53. Swedish visiting divers shall, well in advance, contact the head of department/equivalent or diving activities leader to receive the diving permit at the subjected unit. To receive the permit she/he should also present a plan for the dives and signed permission from the employer. 2.2 Foreign visiting divers The foreign diver’s employer must certify that the diver may carry out the specified diving work at the Swedish unit and that she/he understands that the diver should follow the Swedish working environment authority regulations and the rules of diving at the University of Gothenburg. The diver’s employer, however, may impose restrictions in diving work even if the Swedish rules allow these operations. The diver must present a medical certificate from their home country that she/he have attended and successfully passed the examination to carry out work diving. The medical certificate shall approve the diver to conduct the intended dive work and shall be valid during the time the diver performs diving work at the University of Gothenburg. The diver should be able to show copies of the result of the medical examination. The foreign medical certificate validity intervals apply at the University of Gothenburg if the range is equal to or below Swedish time requirements. Swedish regulations apply if there are longer intervals between the examinations in the diver’s home country. In case of doubt an officially approved Swedish diving doctor should be consulted. Foreign visiting divers shall well in advance contact the head of department/equivalent or diving activities leader to receive the diving permit at the subjects unit. To receive the permit she/he should also present a plan for the dives and signed permission from the employer. 3 Work environment responsibility The head of department or equivalent is responsible for the work environment at the University’s units. Head of department/equivalent: - shall inform affected students, researchers, teachers, other staff and visiting divers about the current diving regulations - shall issue diving permit for each diver at the unit - shall ensure that the prescribed medical examinations are preformed - shall ensure that the prescribed CPR training is arranged - shall see to that the diving activities leaders, the diving supervisors, and the divers have the necessary training opportunities - shall ensure that the diving activities leaders, the diving supervisors, and the divers have the documented practical and theoretical skills to conduct the diving work - shall ensure that the divers are informed and can use the equipment provided by the unit e.g. compressor, OXYBOX etc. - shall ensure that the University’s diving gear (and private equipment used in the diving work) is maintained and checked in accordance with applicable regulations - shall organize training sessions for diving staff so that they maintain and further improve their diving skills Head of department/equivalent is responsible for the University’s register of the specified unit’s divers, their medical examinations, training certificates, etc., and that individual diving journals are updated and accurate. 4 Diving activities leader The head of department/equivalent at the units where diving takes place can designate diving activities leader/s. However the head of department/equivalent is still ultimately responsible for the work environment. The diving activities